Family Medicine at the Forefront: Lessons Learnt From the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in Crete, Greece

Lionis, Christos; Anastasaki, Marilena; Petelos, Elena; Souliotis, Kyriakos; Tsiligianni, Ioanna

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.815825

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In search of solutions for non-compliance of patients with chronic conditions ( 40 ) to vaccination against VPDs, seemingly a global problem ( 41 – 43 ), better implementation and compliance to vaccination program by attending physicians and nurses are imperative ( 44 ). This role was further and highly revealed during the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out ( 45 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Vaccination coverage of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Challenging issues from an outpatient secondary care setting in Greece

Galanos

Dimitriou

Pappas

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundIncreased morbidity/mortality due to vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) is encountered in type 2 diabetes (T2D) people. Aim of this study was to assess their vaccination coverage and describe trends possibly affecting compliance.MethodsInformation on vaccination coverage was retrieved from either documents or interview provided by patients, and/or their vaccination record card at a specialized outpatient diabetes center. The selection of the patients was arbitrary.ResultsAn increasing vaccination rate for influenza was observed from 2018 to 2020 among 372 participants. The vaccination coverage for S.pneumoniae was 67.2% (PCV13), 20.4% (PPSV23), 26.3% for herpes zoster in individuals ≥60 years, 1.9% for tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis and 1.1% for hepatitis B. A 10.2% of participants were found to be unvaccinated. Vaccination uptake for influenza and PCV13 was related to age, ≥3 comorbidities and long-term follow-up. T2D individuals consecutively vaccinated for influenza were 3.78 times more likely to be also vaccinated with PCV13.ConclusionsVaccination rates of patients with T2D show an increasing trend, especially for influenza and S. pneumoniae, although the one for S. pneumoniae was low. Older people seem more prone to vaccination, the one for herpes zoster was low with infected patients remaining unvaccinated while significantly low coverage was observed for other VPDs. The findings are important to improve effectiveness of preventative services.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Vaccination coverage of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Challenging issues from an outpatient secondary care setting in Greece

Galanos

Dimitriou

Pappas

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

Self Cite

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“…From the aforementioned models, it could be speculated that the most likely scenario is that individuals from lower socioeconomic strata in the two analyzed populations may have a cultural–behavioral profile associated with lower health literacy [ 60 ], rendering them more prone to misinformation and institutional mistrust, which have been linked to vaccine hesitancy in the specific populations [ 61 , 62 ]. Material deprivation and reduced access to health care are anticipated to play a minor role in socioeconomic inequalities in this case since the vaccination programs put in place in both countries have been well-organized, systematic, widespread, and free of charge [ 27 , 63 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socioeconomic Inequalities in COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake in Greece and Cyprus during the Pandemic

Pouliasi,

Hadjikou,

Kouvari

et al. 2023

Vaccines

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Despite the rigorous investigation of the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy and refusal during the COVID-19 pandemic, the socioeconomic determinants of this phenomenon remain poorly investigated on a global scale. Following proportional quota sampling, we conducted a population-based cross-sectional study. We recruited participants on-site and online from different settings, regions, and socioeconomic strata in two Eastern Mediterranean populations, Greece and Cyprus. Our approach provided a nationwide sample (n = 576) approaching the adult population structure of the two countries, with a slight underrepresentation of men and older people. Our results indicate clear socioeconomic differences in vaccine hesitancy and vaccination coverage, consistent with wider social inequalities in health. In particular, we reveal a clear socioeconomic gradient characterized by lower vaccine hesitancy and higher vaccination coverage, with increasing educational attainment and income. Additionally, participants residing in semi-urban areas show higher vaccine hesitancy and have lower vaccination coverage than those residing in urban and rural areas. Our results could inform Public Health approaches aiming to tackle the alarming phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy by enabling the targeting of population groups who are particularly vaccine-hesitant, rendering such approaches more targeted and effective while at the same time reducing inequalities in the control and prevention of infectious diseases.

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“…The majority of COVID-19 cases were unvaccinated (95%), and this probably reflects the efficacy of vaccines before the omicron variant predominance or the low vaccine coverage of the population 29 . Vaccinations were only available in public hospitals in Greece during the first semester, and private doctors could only advise their patients on the need for and efficacy of vaccination 30 . There was an increased awareness of information by patients, as 78% of PPCPs provided this information by telephone for more than 20 patients weekly.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of private primary care pulmonologists network in Greece in the first year of COVID-19 pandemic

Vittorakis¹,

Georgakopoulou²,

Apollonatos³

et al. 2022

Pneumon

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INTRODUCTIONThe COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed the capacities of healthcare systems. Primary care physicians had a pivotal role in reducing the unnecessary access of suspected and confirmed cases to hospitals, and they substantially contributed to the success of vaccination programs. In this study, we aim to determine the role of the Greek private primary care pulmonologists (PPCPs) network during the first year of the pandemic. METHODS An electronic questionnaire consisting of 28 simple questions was administered to PPCPs by e-mail or by sharing a link in private social networking groups. RESULTS A total of 150 PPCPs completed the study. According to their answers, they examined a significant portion of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases, and they offered to several patients blood testing and chest radiography. PPCPS maintained close contact with both patients that had faceto-face assessment and patients managed remotely with a great number of telephone contacts. The majority of PPCPs provided information for COVID-19 vaccination by telephone for more than 20 patients weekly. CONCLUSIONS PPCPs offered high quality and specialized support for COVID-19 patients. Besides, they supported the national vaccination program by informing a substantial number of patients.

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Family Medicine at the Forefront: Lessons Learnt From the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in Crete, Greece

Cited by 4 publications

References 13 publications

Vaccination coverage of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Challenging issues from an outpatient secondary care setting in Greece

Vaccination coverage of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Challenging issues from an outpatient secondary care setting in Greece

Socioeconomic Inequalities in COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake in Greece and Cyprus during the Pandemic

The role of private primary care pulmonologists network in Greece in the first year of COVID-19 pandemic

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